title: Tumor markers in pancreatic cancer: a comparative clinical study between CEA, CA 19-9 and CA 50.
abstract: Seventy-eight patients were evaluated to ascertain the usefulness of markers CA 19-9 and CA 50 in diagnosing pancreatic cancer, using a less specific marker (CEA) as reference. Three groups were considered: a) 36 controls; b) 22 patients with benign obstructive jaundice; c) 20 patients with pancreatic cancer. Preoperative blood samples were obtained to ascertain CEA (E.I.A.), CA 19-9 (R.I.A.) and CA 50 (T.R.-F.I.A.). Serum concentrations of the various markers were significantly higher for patients with pancreatic cancer in comparison with the other groups, at cut-offs of 10 ng/ml (CEA), 100 ng/ml (CA 19-9) and 170 U/ml (CA 50). The sensitivity of CA 19-9 (94%) and CA 50 (88%) was much greater than that of CEA (30%). The specificity of the three markers in patients with pancreatic cancer, with respect to the control group, was 100% and this figure is reduced with respect to the group suffering from benign obstructive jaundice (CEA: 90%; CA 19-9: 88% and CA 50: 87%). Diagnostic results (sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (P.P.V.) and negative predictive value (N.P.V.] did not significantly increase with respect to CA 19-9 and CA 50 when considered individually. It is concluded that the serum concentrations of CA 19-9 and CA 50 showed high sensitivity and specificity as markers of pancreatic cancer with respect to the other groups, pointing towards clinical routine clinical use of both markers. In addition, a comparative study of the literature has been made and prospects for short-term development and concrete applications for early and reliable diagnosis have been highlighted.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Hospital Universitario de San Carlos, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Complutense, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: L M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Molina
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Díez
authors.forename: M T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Cava
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Maestro
authors.forename: M D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Ortega
authors.forename: J G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Mendíz
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Prego
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: De Diego
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Balibrea
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm / Q000097:blood*; D015295:Antigens, Tumor-Associated, Carbohydrate / Q000097:blood; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood*; D002272:Carcinoembryonic Antigen / Q000097:blood; D002779:Cholestasis / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D015295:Antigens, Tumor-Associated, Carbohydrate; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D002272:Carcinoembryonic Antigen